Should Preppers Bug-In or Bug-Out?

by: contributor

The longer we delve
into the subject of preparedness, the more apparent it
becomes that making the choice to bug in or bug out is
dependent on many factors. Because this topic is far too
in depth to write about in one article so we will explore in detail one of
the most important decisions you will ever make for your
family – whether to bug-in or bug-out.

Factors to Consider

Making the decision to bug-in or bug-out are both unique to one another.
Moreover, both are extremely stressful situations that involve a lot of
forethought and planning in order for a smooth transition to take place.
Obviously, we’d all like to hunker down with our supplies and ride out a
storm, but there are factors to consider in the bug in or bug out
decision making process:

The situations listed
above will cause a shift in our everyday lives. No
longer can we run out to pick up necessary items at a
store, go to the hospital for medical care, or rely on
emergency responders to keep us safe. Further, supply
trucks will be delayed in re-supplying necessary food,
water and survival needs, or the government may have
felt it necessary to intervene and have a military
presence in the city or town that you live. In some
cases, banks will shut down making it impossible for you
to access your hard earned money.

Inevitably, in times such as these, the
survival of our family will rest upon our shoulders, and
if we find ourselves in an environment that isn’t
conducive to our way of life and we are unable to
thrive, then we must make the choice to leave the
environment or stand firm and defend it. But before that
choice is made, weigh your options carefully (including
your risks and odds at surviving). What it all comes
down to is which scenario will you be safest in and
thrive the most.

The above-listed events and factors can
cause extreme upheavals in our lifestyles and
communities; therefore, we must take these into
consideration. To evaluate whether or not to bug-in or
bug-out, you need to ask yourself two important
questions:

1. Do you have everything that
you and your family need to survive?

Ultimately, whether or not you decide to
bug in or bug out you take the chance of being on your
own for an extended period of time. It could be 2 weeks,
a month or longer and it’s all on you. The place that
you decide to survive in needs to have an adequate
amount of supplies to carry your family through. As
well, thought should be put into longer term survival
needs in case the disaster becomes long term.

Keep in mind that with respect to major
natural disasters, water sources are usually
questionable following a disaster, fuel is scare, shelf
stable food supplies are limited, supply trucks are
delayed, flooding and damage to homes could be a
problem, and home invasions are also at the forefront.
If you don’t have the supplies, tools and skills needed
to live on your own for at least a two week period or
longer, then you should consider finding shelter
elsewhere.

Note: To determine whether or not you are
adequately supplied, consider simulating an “off grid”
weekend and live off of your preps to see how well
equipped you are. This will help you find any “holes” in
your preparedness supplies and areas where you need to
bulk up.

2. Will you be safe
until a recovery period occurs?

Another important consideration when deciding to bug-in
or bug-out is that history has shown that following a
disaster social breakdowns typically occur. If the event
is severe enough, the government may decide that martial
law is the only recourse and legally has the right to
confiscate guns, thus taking away your ability to
protect yourself. If you live in a highly populated
area, where crime waves and looting could pose a
problem, then this could leave you and your family
vulnerable to home invasions and a family member could
be injured.

Further, you need to really examine
whether your home is a safe place to bug in. Is the home
far enough off the street to prevent flooding? Is your
home built on a solid foundation? Can you defend it if
attacked? Do you have a strong local community support
(i.e., a well- organized neighborhood watch program,
church outreach programs, or friends and relatives that
live nearby)?

As you can see, there is a lot to think
about when making the decision to bug-in or bug-out.
Population density, community support, probability of
natural disasters, etc. are all factors to strongly
consider. Dangers occur in both situations if you aren’t
properly prepared. Therefore, it is essential that you
make an informed decision. In the next part of this
series we will discuss the bug in option of this
prepper’s conundrum and what will be needed in order to
thrive.